for show

idiom

1
: intended to be seen but not used or bought
We're not supposed to eat the fruit on the table. It's just for show.
2
disapproving : done in order to gain the approval or favor of others
He says he enjoys classical music, but it's only for show.

Examples of for show in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Dinner and show tickets are $43-$47, $33 for children 15 and younger and for show-only. Eric E. Harrison, Arkansas Online, 11 Sep. 2025 But the color isn't just for show. Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 31 Aug. 2025 Grab your bulb digger and set out these fabulous flowering bulbs for show-stopping spring blooms. Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 24 Aug. 2025 This is the guy who has been repeatedly caught inflating his net worth for show. Chris Brennan, USA Today, 22 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for for show

Cite this Entry

“For show.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/for%20show. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.

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